Michigan State Police trooper struck by car while on duty -- for 10th time

By Mitch Hotts

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

A Michigan State Police trooper making a traffic stop on Interstate 696 in Warren on Tuesday was injured when his patrol vehicle was struck by another vehicle -- the 10th time he has been involved in an accident while on duty, according to a state police spokesman.

The trooper, whose name was not released, is a 24-year veteran of the force, said Lt. Michael Shaw. The taxi that struck him was going approximately 70 mph.

"He's being held in the hospital overnight because he has some pretty good bumps and bruises but fortunately, he was not seriously hurt," said Shaw, who had visited the law enforcer in the hospital.

The incident began about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday when the trooper had conducted a traffic stop on eastbound I-696 between Hoover and Van Dyke in Warren and arrested a motorist for driving on a suspended license.

The trooper had placed the motorist in the back seat of the police car and was doing paperwork when the driver of a taxi cab mini van apparently lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the rear end of the patrol car, sending it into the median wall.

Shaw said alcohol was not a factor in the crash.

The cab driver and a passenger, along with the trooper and the motorist initially stopped were all transported to Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak hospital for non-life threatening injuries, Shaw said.

State police closed the eastbound lanes between Hoover and Van Dyke for close to two hours as they conducted their investigation.

It was not immediately known what, if any, charges the cab driver faces because police have not yet been able to investigate the passenger as part of their review. One of the parties was expected to be released Tuesday from the hospital, while the trooper and two others were being held overnight.

Shaw said it was the 10th time this trooper had been struck by a motorist. He said that underscores the risks posed to police while working on area freeways.

Under state law, motorists are supposed to move into an open lane at least one lane away from an emergency vehicle that is on the side of the road or freeway with its emergency lights activated.